Alarm in the outdoor pool: Smartphone use endangers children!

Alarm in the outdoor pool: Smartphone use endangers children!

What does the outdoor pool look like? There is great joy, especially during the swimming season, but safety is increasingly becoming a concern. Many parents are busy with their smartphones and don't pay enough attention to their children. This circumstance causes heated discussions in the swimming master community. The President of the Federal Association of German Swimming Champions, Peter Harzheim, does not take kindly to the behavior of the parents. He calls this distraction “the plague” and warns urgently about the consequences that result from this inattention.

The German Life Saving Society (DLRG) has published alarming statistics. In 2024, 411 people died in swimming accidents in Germany - 31 more than in the previous year. The victims included 14 children under the age of ten. These frightening figures are not insignificantly related to smartphone use among those subject to supervision. "Our goal is to protect children. But when parents are distracted, this becomes a problem," said Harzheim.

Attention required

The be-all and end-all of water safety is attention. Harzheim is therefore calling for more commitment from parents, who should pay more attention to their offspring while bathing. “Swimming masters are not the watchmen for the children, but rather have the safety of all bathers in mind,” he emphasizes. Swimming instructors repeatedly report dramatic scenes in which adults have obviously lost sight of their children - often caused by distraction from their cell phones.

The DLRG also found that there were 15 drownings in one weekend alone. This shows that we have to be vigilant. Ute Vogt, President of the DLRG, sounds the alarm and warns of the dangers in flowing waters. In this context, she recommends avoiding swimming in rivers to further minimize the risk.

Swimming accidents in focus

According to Harzheim, disrespect for the rules in swimming pools has increased in recent years. This development is particularly noticeable in Hesse. The DLRG also estimates that almost every second school child cannot swim safely after primary school, with two out of ten children being seriously affected. This fact not only puts children at risk, but also raises alarm bells for the future.

Master swimmers face a real challenge. There needs to be a rethink, both among parents and the public. The responsibility for safety does not just lie with the professionals - every single parent must also take action. “Fun in the water must not compromise safety,” appeals Harzheim, sending a clear signal to everyone who should take the obligation to supervise children in the swimming pool seriously.

To ensure water quality and safety, it is essential that everyone follows the rules and becomes more vigilant. Because one thing is clear: only together can we reduce the risk of swimming accidents.

Additional information and a deeper insight into the problem can be found at Mercury, Mirror and ZDF.